Curb Cuts and Universal Design

It came unexpectedly, the snow was dumping and created traffic gridlock. The only way to get around by car was by four wheel drive. While stuck on an icy hill in a car, the stranded driver watched hoping that one of the big trucks would stop and help. Hope was waning, until someone stopped. This is what it is can be like for someone with a physical or visual impairment when approaching a sidewalk with an inaccessible curb ramp.

A sidewalk curb cut universal design is something that often goes unnoticed and unfortunately is frequently overlooked. One original challenge for designing a universal curb ramp was the visually versus physically impaired requirements. Visually impaired citizens argued that a curb ramp would distort their traditional guidance methods. Physically impaired citizens argued that without curb ramps they were not allowed safe and equal public rights of way. In 2001 the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) rendered a decision that would be amicable for both groups.

The 2001 ADA called out for curb cuts to have a universal design effective immediately. To address visually impaired citizens, the act required all curb ramps or curb cuts universal design to have tactile detectable warnings systems (DWS) installed. For detectable warning compliance they were very specific, it must have three key features. These three features are a 70% color contrast (between DWS and adjacent surface), plus a sound and touch detectability. For the physically impaired they specified ramp slope, setbacks and acceptable detectable warning surfaces.

People with disabilities are still forced to deal with these oversights even though there is now a federal law specifying compliance methods. It is like being stuck on that icy hill, a helping hand can make a major difference in someone’s world.

By
Shawn Osborne

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